SVP – Regional Risk Officer - North America

The SVP, Regional Risk Officer North America (NA) will be a senior leader within the Risk organization of Visa reporting to the Chief Risk Officer. He/she will provide leadership of risk initiatives for the Visa business across NA and will ensure Visa maintains its positive reputation at the forefront of the payment industry by delivering on the long-term risk strategy.

The SVP will lead a broad portfolio of responsibilities including enterprise and strategic risk management for the business, credit settlement risk, franchise risk management, innovation risk, and ecosystem risks primarily fraud & data security across NA. He/she will champion security across all participants in the Visa payments ecosystem and will be responsible for maintaining the integrity of that ecosystem within the region. 

Key Accountabilities

• Lead and develop the North America Risk team into a high performing, best in class organization.
• Play an active role on Global Risk and the North America Leadership Teams to define regional Risk strategies and initiatives to help influence and shape the Regional objectives.
• Establish and executes the enterprise risk program for NA, including promotion of the three lines of defense model, execution of “2nd line of defense” oversight programs, and overall coordination of risk and control functions across the region.
• Ensure the “1st Line of defense” has an embedded risk management culture, with effective monitoring, analytical tools and appropriate training and support.
• Maintain the integrity of the Visa payment system and the broader payments ecosystem. This includes working with financial institutions, merchants, issuers, Fintech, payment facilitators, law enforcement, and regulatory authorities on initiatives to secure the payment system, reduce fraud, and eliminate illegal and brand damaging activities.
• Lead responsible innovation initiatives within the region, including assisting clients to ensure they understand and are working to mitigate risks posed by new technologies, products, services and platforms.
• Coordinate with the sales, product, consulting, and client support organizations to drive the adoption and effective use of Visa risk solutions and services by clients in the region, in order to maintain security, reduce fraud, and grow the Visa business.
• Ensure relevant teams across the region are informed on the health of settlement exposure in the market, risk programs, and risk assessments.
• Manage data breaches and fraud attacks affecting clients in the region, including mitigating impacts, identifying causes and driving remediation, and overseeing communication with relevant stakeholders.
• Drive Visa thought leadership on payment security, integrity, and fraud management across the region, including client and stakeholder communication, risk forums and security summits.
• Serve as primary spokesperson and principal liaison with regulatory authorities within NA on risk related matters.
• Maintain operational excellence within Risk and contributes to the development of innovative risk solutions that improve security and fraud control while delivering value to the Visa community.

This is an on-site position. An on-site position must be consistently performed at an assigned Visa office location and require daily commute to the office location.

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Basic Qualifications:
• 15 years of work experience with a Bachelor’s Degree, 12 years of work experience with an Advanced degree (e.g. Masters/MBA/JD/MD) or a minimum of 10 years of work experience with a PhD

Preferred Qualifications:
• 20+ years of experience in Risk Management including significant experience in Risk Leadership positions at the C-Suite level.
• A deep understanding of the payments industry and financial services (particularly within the retail sector), payment products and services, and of wider economic / competitive landscape.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of risk management, critically including ecosystem risk with an advanced understanding of governance oversight and control, expertise to assess the firm’s capabilities.
• Financially and technologically literate with an excellent understanding of risk management, strong analytical and decision-making skills, and a demonstrated ability to maintain intellectual rigor and objectivity in stress situations.
• Strong commercial acumen and ability to build deep and trusted client relationships, bringing a respected and trusted professional brand in the external market with credibility to lead industry-wide initiatives.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of regulatory objectives and processes, with experience in working with regulators.
• Strong ability to proactively identify and manage risks through discussion and relationships with business leaders.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills proven in a senior-level corporate environment and in public speaking engagements, including the ability to distill compelling insights from complex and technical subject matters.
• Track record in synthesizing complex information to produce impactful management information (business and customer strategy) and an ability to react quickly and decisively to where problems are identified.
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced, deadline-driven, globally matrixed environment with the skill to navigate complex organizational and decision making structures.
• Strong interpersonal skills, including superior ability to lead, motivate, and empower teams and to work across organizational boundaries to deliver results through influence and collaboration.
• Experience in leading organizations through stressed and/or crisis situations with successful results.
• Foster an inclusive and diverse work environment that encourages full engagement and contributes to broader strategic goals including championing a culture of full engagement respect and collaboration.
• Strong track record of success managing, leading, motivating high performing and diverse teams.
• Ability to build the intellectual capital of the risk function in key areas of payments, security and fraud management, credit and settlement risk, operational and enterprise risk.
• Experience of leading major transformation / change programs within an organization or has been involved in an acquisition / integration.

Personal Characteristics
• An intellectually curious but humble leader with a high degree of compassion, able to engage, enable and inspire others.
• A hands-on approach to all activities with real passion and high levels of energy. Agile and comfortable adapting to different environments.
• Creative and resourceful in overcoming barriers and unexpected roadblocks. Courageous in spirit, driving change through innovation.
• An authentic leader who intuitively engenders an inclusive environment, enabling the business to reach its ambitious goals.
• Possesses high personal standards of ethics and integrity towards employees, stakeholders and customers.
• Diversity of thought and experience. Continually seeks new perspectives and feedback, takes an inclusive approach.
• High levels of learning-agility with a real interest in the fintech ecosystem and a ‘technology / digital-first’ approach.
• Entrepreneurial and comfortable with ambiguous and change-led environments, self-confident with an authentic style that gravitates to championing change.
• Eager to seek a challenge and expand frontiers, brings a visionary approach. Sets and meets a high bar of goals and principles.
• Servant leadership mentality, deeply committed to serving and listening to others. Natural ability to build strong relationships and enable collaboration through empathy and authenticity.
• Committed to building a community through Visa’s Leadership Principles.

Work Hours: Varies upon the needs of the department.

Travel Requirements: This position requires travel 5-10% of the time.

Mental/Physical Requirements: This position will be performed in an office setting.  The position will require the incumbent to sit and stand at a desk, communicate in person and by telephone, frequently operate standard office equipment, such as telephones and computers.

Visa is an EEO Employer.  Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.  Visa will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.

Visa will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable local law, including the requirements of Article 49 of the San Francisco Police Code.

U.S. APPLICANTS ONLY: The estimated salary range for a new hire into this position is 300,000 to 450,000 USD per year, which may include potential sales incentive payments (if applicable). Salary may vary depending on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location. In addition, this position may be eligible for bonus and equity. Visa has a comprehensive benefits package for which this position may be eligible that includes Medical, Dental, Vision, 401 (k), FSA/HSA, Life Insurance, Paid Time Off, and Wellness Program.